Good Wicca resources for a total beginner?

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[RedLori]

hi,
(thank you to everyone who has suggested to me in various threads good things to research, by the way )

I have feel positive so far about the way my tiny researches are going (in various directions!)
in fact, even, today, receiving a definite sign that the general direction is right.
however, there are so many resources 'out there', it is a little bit confusing for a total beginner.
Of course, I want to know what is quite authoritative or useful, and what is fluffy mass-market nonsense!
This site has many recommendations when I dig, but I have to admit..
I am slow at reading, so I would like to know about the most important basic '101' book/s that you would say it's best for a total beginner to start with!  
I would like to start in researching Wicca (I'm aware that it is a 'modern' created religion)
although don't know where I will end up!  

I don't necesarilly see myself as being Wiccan, but think it is important to start somewhere and trust the gods  
I have read some small amounts on other paths, and am confident that if it is meant to be, I will find my way to it.
thank you!

[Firaza]

I am slow at reading, so I would like to know about the most important basic '101' book/s that you would say it's best for a total beginner to start with!

To research Wicca, I picked up Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. I found it pretty enlightening and well-rounded.

[GabrielWithoutWings]

hi,
(thank you to everyone who has suggested to me in various threads good things to research, by the way )

I have feel positive so far about the way my tiny researches are going (in various directions!)
in fact, even, today, receiving a definite sign that the general direction is right.
however, there are so many resources 'out there', it is a little bit confusing for a total beginner.
Of course, I want to know what is quite authoritative or useful, and what is fluffy mass-market nonsense!
This site has many recommendations when I dig, but I have to admit..
I am slow at reading, so I would like to know about the most important basic '101' book/s that you would say it's best for a total beginner to start with! 
I would like to start in researching Wicca (I'm aware that it is a 'modern' created religion)
although don't know where I will end up! 

I don't necesarilly see myself as being Wiccan, but think it is important to start somewhere and trust the gods 
I have read some small amounts on other paths, and am confident that if it is meant to be, I will find my way to it.
thank you!

I would suggest Wicca For the Rest of Us

[Jenett]

I've got a booklist in three parts here: http://gleewood.org/threshold/books/ that includes why I'd recommend specific books. I don't generally recommend Cunningham as a starting point these days, because the community's grown and changed since his death in the 90s, and how we talk about things has also shifted. His books still have some good stuff in them, but I don't think they're the best intro anymore.

One other note, since you mention being interested in Wicca in specific, but being very new to it. You might not know that the term 'Lady' is used in Wiccan contexts to refer to the High Priestess of a group (and sometimes in very specific circumstances, like only in ritual.) Basically, in this context: people may make assumptions about you that aren't true with it, either that you ahve a lot more experience than you do, or that you're trying to pretend you are. If you're actually a legitimately curious newcomer and seeker, that's probably not the vibe you want to give off!

(It's probably not a big deal here, because lots of people use names that don't particularly reflect any particular religious role directly (I'd be LadyAlthaea, if I did, not Jenett, f'ex), but in some other places they do. In particular, if you go looking for a coven, and come across with that kind of title in your email or even your email address, people may take you less seriously than you'd like.)

[Firaza]

I've got a booklist in three parts here: http://gleewood.org/threshold/books/ that includes why I'd recommend specific books. I don't generally recommend Cunningham as a starting point these days, because the community's grown and changed since his death in the 90s, and how we talk about things has also shifted. His books still have some good stuff in them, but I don't think they're the best intro anymore.

That's good to know! I know nothing about Wicca either, and have been trying to learn more about it, so I saw that his book had good reviews and picked it up when I chanced upon it. If things have changed since its publication, I'll definitely take a look at your book list.

[dragonfaerie]

I've got a booklist in three parts here: http://gleewood.org/threshold/books/ that includes why I'd recommend specific books. I don't generally recommend Cunningham as a starting point these days, because the community's grown and changed since his death in the 90s, and how we talk about things has also shifted. His books still have some good stuff in them, but I don't think they're the best intro anymore.

An aside... I read 21st Century Wicca and wasn't too impressed with it. I do recommend Cunningham's books as a starting point because it's easy to get up and running with actual rituals with his stuff. Maybe it's just nostalgia because it's where I started.

I'd add Spiral Dance and Drawing Down the Moon to a beginning list. I also really enjoyed "Witchcraft: Theory and Practice" by Ly de Angeles and "When I See the Wild God".

Karen

[TisiphoneSeraph]

I would suggest Wicca For the Rest of Us

Second.
I'm not Wiccan but when I was seriously looking into it as a religion, this site helped a ton.


If you're interested in witchcraft, as well I recommend Ellen Dugan's books. I found them very helpful, practical, and just generally down to earth as far as metaphysical books go. Her Natural Witchery book has a lot of good not-quite-beginner info (so I recommend it for once you have a bit more grounding in the subject) in it that is reminiscent of some forms of Wicca.

[Jenett]

An aside... I read 21st Century Wicca and wasn't too impressed with it. I do recommend Cunningham's books as a starting point because it's easy to get up and running with actual rituals with his stuff. Maybe it's just nostalgia because it's where I started.

I'd add Spiral Dance and Drawing Down the Moon to a beginning list. I also really enjoyed "Witchcraft: Theory and Practice" by Ly de Angeles and "When I See the Wild God".

As I said in my conversation there - I think 21st Century Wicca is a bit dated these days, but I really like the perspectives and comments from a range of others that she included: it's something I'd like to see more of in intro books. I'm also highly aware that there really isn't a Wicca-ish 101 book out there that I can whole-heartedly recommend, so my starting points are those where I think someone would not get themselves into a pit they'd have to relearn their way out of. (I would be interested in knowing more about why you weren't impressed, though - I'm about to start a reread of a bunch of things with an eye to more detailed commentary of some sort, but haven't reread it in a year or two.)

I don't recommend Spiral Dance and Drawing Down the Moon as the first books I'd suggest someone would read - because, again, both of them have history attached to them that's hard to make sense of until someone has a bit more context. But I do highly recommend them after that, so people can see where they come from.

[dragonfaerie]

(I would be interested in knowing more about why you weren't impressed, though - I'm about to start a reread of a bunch of things with an eye to more detailed commentary of some sort, but haven't reread it in a year or two.)

I read it several years ago, so I can't really remember. I think I just wasn't very impressed with the people she profiled in the book rather than with her material. And I don't think the approach of throwing others' comments/stories into her material really worked for me, either.

25 pages of the book is available on Google books, so I was poking through it there to jog my memory. I don't think it was a horrible book, but I don't know that I'd put it in my own top five. Since I'm now qualified to teach in my own tradition of Wicca, I should probably put together some sort of book list of my own sometime on my LJ.

Karen

[RedLori]

Thank you to everybody for your suggestions and help!

You might not know that the term 'Lady' is used in Wiccan contexts to refer to the High Priestess of a group (and sometimes in very specific circumstances, like only in ritual.) Basically, in this context: people may make assumptions about you that aren't true with it, either that you ahve a lot more experience than you do, or that you're trying to pretend you are. If you're actually a legitimately curious newcomer and seeker, that's probably not the vibe you want to give off!

Oooh thanks - I didn't know that!
Well, this is the only Pagan discussion board I'm a member on, so I don't think it's a problem.
I hope nobody hear thought its means I'm Wiccan/Priestess though! 

I use this handle as it's my title in a different context (totally non-religion-related!) with no intention to confuse or offent.

[RedLori]

I use this handle as it's my title in a different context (totally non-religion-related!) with no intention to confuse or offent.

oh - and I'd also like to clarify...
I cannot change my username on here because I've forgotten my password!!!!!!  
apparently I didn't also set a 'prompt' question (?) so I have no way of changing my pass word!  
I don't know if this is something any of the mods could help me with?  
(normally the system just keeps me logged in...)

[Star]

oh - and I'd also like to clarify...
I cannot change my username on here because I've forgotten my password!!!!!!  
apparently I didn't also set a 'prompt' question (?) so I have no way of changing my pass word!  
I don't know if this is something any of the mods could help me with?  
(normally the system just keeps me logged in...)

There should be some way we can help you...  Let me take a look around.

[Star]

apparently I didn't also set a 'prompt' question (?) so I have no way of changing my pass word!  
I don't know if this is something any of the mods could help me with?  

OK, I think I've got it.  Look for a PM from me here in a sec.

[RedLori]

I would suggest Wicca For the Rest of Us

hi Gabriel, I just wanted to say thank you for this link, this site is really interesting/useful for me 
I don't know what other people's opinions about it are. but seems pretty good for a beginner at least for browsing around!
with books I guess I have to take the plunge!!!!!!!!!!  *counting pennies for amazon  * (or visit library)

[Spirit Bear]

I would suggest Wicca For the Rest of Us

Excellent website, debunking common myths and great information!

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